Improvement in peateebing paddle-wheels



@uitrit gisten. gat-w1. @gina ROBERT BELL, 0F EAST SAGINAW, MICHIGAN.

Letters Patent No. 78,415, dated June 2, I868.

IMPROVEMENT IN FEATEERING PADDLE-W'EELS.

die Stlgthtle tctemt vit in ilgest ctttts @that mit limiting @ttt-tt tigt same.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY GONOERN: y

Be it known that I, ROBERT BELL, of East Saginaw, in the county of Saginaw, and State of Michigan, have vinvented a new and improved Paddle-Wheel; and that the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, hereinafter referred to, forms a full and exact specification of thesame, whereinI have set forth the nature and principles of my said improvements, by which my invention may be distinguishedrfrom all others of a similar class, together with such parts as I claim, and desire to have secured to me by Letters Patent. l

This'invcntion relates to a new and improved paddle-Wheel, of that class in which fcathering-buckets are cmployedin order to avoid the jars and concussions caused by the plunge ofthe fixed radial buckets of ordinary wheels into the Water at tliefront or descending side, and vto avoid the loss of power caused by said buckets lifting the water as they pass out from it at the rear or rising side of the wheel.

My invention consistsin `the employment or use of double buckets, and in a novel arrangement and mode of fcathering the same, whereby it is believed that a superior Wheel of the class specitiedis obtained.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings* Figure l is aside view of a paddle-Wheel constructed according to my invention. Figure 2, an end view ofthe same. Figures 3, 4, and 5, detail vieWs'o` a bucket pertaining to the same. Figures 6 and 7, detached views of a part which connects the buckets with the feathering-rin1. Figure 8, a section-of a portion-of a bucket, 'taken in the line x x, fig. 9. Figure 9, a section of a bucket taken in the line g/ y, g. 3. Figure 10,2. section of a bucket taken in the line le e, hg. 9.

Similar letters of referenceindicate likeparts A represents the sha-fte@ the paddle-wheel, and B'B are the two sides of the wheel, which are i'rmly keyed on the shaft A, and have the axes, 0,01 the buckets secured in their rims, at suitable and equal distances apart.

The axes, C, of the buckets are designed to be xed, and the buckets, D, placed loosely upon them. The buckets are composed of two parallel pieces, a a, which may be of Wood, and constitute their face-sides, and said pieces are connected at their ends by metal plates b the space between the faces or parallel pieces a a ofthe buckets being about equalto the depth of said pieces. E is an eccentric, secured to the side of the vessel, and fitting loosely upon the shaft A. On this eccentric. a-circular plate, F is fitted. This plate F may be of skeleton-form, as also may be the sides B B ofthe Wheel, and to the rim of the circular plateF there is attached, by bolts c, a rim,G, as shown in figs. 1 and 2.

To the inner end-plates In of the buckets D there are secured eccentrics, II, one to each bucket, (see more particularly iig. 4,) and on these eccentrics there are dtted eyes, I, (sec more particularly rigs'. 6 and 7,) which are bolted to the rim G, as indicated by the dotted lines in g. 1. I

The eccentricity of the rim Gr, with the sides B B, of the Wheel, in connection with the eccentrics H at one end of the buckets, and the tting of said eccentrics in eyes, I, which are attached to the rim G, causes the buckets, as the wheel rota-tes, toturn or feather in such a manner that thc buckets will enter the water with their faces a a in a vertical position, and alsolcavc the water in the same position, therebyavoiding thc jars,` and concussions, and lii"t, attending the operation of the ordinary paddlewheels, which are provided with fixed radial buckets. I

I would remark .that the rim G might be constructedin such a manner as to admit of the eocentrics II being fitted directly in it, but the eyes I are preferable, as they admit of an individual bucket being removed or detached from the wheel for repairs, without disturbing any of the others. l

The end-plates 6 I) are constructed with lips or flanges, c c', as shown clearly in tig. 3, the pieces aa havingl their ends fitted between said lips, through which, and a abolts Z pass.

This arrangement will admit of the faces or pieces a a of the buckets being readily removed from the end` plates b b, and in order to admit of an entire bucket being removed Without disturbing its axis C, I design to have the end-plates Z slotted from their centres outward, and retainy said plates properly on their axis by bolting plates IX to the' inner surfaces of the end-plates 6 b, (see figs. 8, 9, and 10.)

By removing or detaching the plates IX, the buckets, it will be "seen, may be removed from the wheel, l

without removing their axes C, or disturhingany of the parte ofthe wheel.

By having the buckets constructed double, or with two faces or pieces e a, they are balanced on their axes C, and, as the Wheel rotates, readily adjusted or retained in the positionpreviously referred to, (a vertical one,) but little friction beinfhr created. The two faces with each bucket are'also an advantage, as we ll as having the featheringarrangement next to the side of the` vessel, and the feathering-rini Gwithin the wheel, the featheringmechanism by this means being more ont of harms way, and less liable to be injured than if it were placed at the outer side of the wheel. A

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters :Patient 1. The combination of the circular plate F, eccentric E, rim Gr, eccentric H, eyes I, and double buckets D, al1 constructed and arranged as described, for the purpose specified.

2. Constructing the buckets with two pieces or faces, a a, and tting the same loosely on iixed axes,`C, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth. I

3. The eccentrics H of the double buckets D, connected with the feathering-rini G by means of eyes, I, fitted upon the eecentrics, and bolted to the sides ofthe rim, the latter being firmly secured to the plate F, as herein described for the purpose speci'ed. v

4. Having the end-plates Z1 ofthe bucket slotted from their centres outward, with plates IX bolted to the inner surfaces of the end-plates, over the slots, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ROBERT BELL.

Witnesses:

T. B. Fox, H. MILLER. 

